Barbell Safety Device

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed towards a lightweight and portable barbell safety device, comprising a first base that stably places the device in a vertical position, a second base that stably places the device in a horizontal position, an anchoring means that holds the bar of the barbell when the device is in a vertical position, and a docking means that holds a weight plate of the barbell when the device is in a horizontal position. The device allows users to safely secure a barbell and quickly and efficiently load and unload the weight plates onto and from the barbell.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a device supporting a barbell, and method of use thereof that allows the user to change the weights thereon safely and easily.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Proper weightlifting technique requires frequent changing of weight plates on a barbell between sets and types of exercises. For example, each set of a particular exercise may require several weight plate changes. Typically, at the beginning of each set of a weightlifting exercise, a user should do a couple of sets with lighter weights prior to working up to the final target weight for the lift. For instance, if the goal is to perform six to ten repetitions of a Dead lift with 450 lbs. of weight plates on the barbell, the user should warm up with sets of Dead Lift with lighter weights first. The user should perform eight to twelve repetitions with 200 lbs., then another eight to ten repetitions with 350 lbs. and, finally, the goal of six to eight repetitions with 450 lbs. may be performed. Proper weightlifting technique requires such a warm up process. However, users often do not perform the proper warm up repetitions, because it is inconvenient and difficult to add and remove weight plates.

In addition, it is difficult to safely remove the weight plates from a barbell when weightlifting alone. The user must lift the bar onto a rack, or lift one end while attempting to slide the plate off the bar. This results in awkward lifting positions and potential injury. Even minor injuries may prevent a user from performing his or her desired exercises and reaching his or her goals. Therefore, there is a need for a barbell support that assists in lifting a barbell off the floor to allow the plates to be removed or added safely and easily.

Various attempts have been made in the past to facilitate changing of weights on a barbell. U.S. 2011/0183818 to Mitchell et al. teaches a barbell support that has at least one cradle, a leverage handle, and at least one pivot foot, wherein the cradles are capable of supporting and balancing a barbell. However, Mitchell's barbell support is large in dimensions, and is not portable for average gym users.

Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 7,674,208 to Hoole, which teaches an apparatus for changing barbell weights, including at least one stand having a ramp and multiple cradles. Hoole's apparatus is essentially a stationary ramp that is also large and cumbersome.

Another example is U.S. 2009/0050768 to Campbell, which teaches a weight plate loading device comprising a solid piece of molded material, including a ramp, a groove and a step portion on the same plane. Campbell's device does not allow secure anchoring of a barbell prior to adding weights, as the height of the device is only 1.5 inches, but the groove is as wide as 6.25 inches, more than four times the diameter of the typical barbell.

Therefore, there is a need to provide an alternative to the expensive and bulky weight leverage devices currently available, for the loading and unloading of weight, thus enabling many more users to benefit from the advantage of loading and unloading, from an elevated position without having to purchase a large and expensive device.

A further objective is to provide a practical, efficient, safe, simply constructed and reasonably inexpensive portable piece of barbell assistance equipment, which can be used at a home or commercial gym, as well as high school, college or professional sports weight room without occupying much of the floor space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed toward a lightweight and portable barbell safety device and method of use thereof that allows a user to support and safely remove, or add weight plates onto a barbell in either the vertical or horizontal position.

The barbell safety device is comprised of a first base that stably places the device in a vertical position, a second base that stably places the device in a horizontal position, an anchoring means that holds the bar of the barbell when the device is in a vertical position, and a docking means that holds a weight plate of the barbell when the device is in a horizontal position. The device allows users to safely secure a barbell then to efficiently load and unload weight plates onto and from the barbell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with the other objects, features, aspects and advantages thereof will be more clearly understood from the following in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 depicts the barbell safety device of this invention in the vertical position.

FIG. 2A depicts a cross-section of the barbell safety device in the vertical position.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the barbell safety device in the vertical position receiving a barbell.

FIG. 3 depicts the barbell safety device of this invention in the horizontal position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the barbell safety device in the horizontal position receiving a barbell with a weight plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is directed toward a lightweight and portable barbell safety device that facilitates the support of the barbell and the loading or unloading of weight plates onto or from a barbell.

The barbell safety device is shown in FIGS. 1, 2A and 3, wherein the barbell safety device 1 has a first base 40 that allows device 1 to be placed in a stable vertical position. Device 1 includes an anchoring means 5 that holds and elevates bar 70 of barbell 90, thus propping up end 110 of barbell 90 as shown in FIG. 2B. A spacer 22 separates anchoring means 5 apart and above base 40. Additionally, spacer 22 may be perpendicular to base 40. Spacer 22 has one end 68 that is adjacent to base 40, a mid-section 65, and a distal end 60 that is either adjacent to or includes anchoring means 5. Anchoring means 5 is located on top 3 of distal end 60. Spacer 22 has a minimal vertical length of 5-14 inches, preferably 6-12 inches, and most preferably 4-10 inches. Anchoring means 5 is in the form of a groove, a notch, a channel, or any shape or form that securely holds the bar 70 of barbell 90. Anchoring means 5 has a width of no greater than 5 inches, preferably no greater than 4 inches, and most preferably no greater than 2 inches. Anchoring means 5 optionally includes a decline 4 with a declined angle α of 45° or less as shown in FIG. 2A, such that after loading of plate 75 onto end 110, barbell end 72 is rested on the ground and bar 70 fits into decline 4, in full contact with anchoring means 5 as shown in FIG. 2B. Alternatively, anchoring means 5 optionally includes a bulge 6 as shown in FIG. 2A, such that bulge 6 serves as a pivot for bar 70. It must be noted that decline 4 or bulge 6 is not required, since base 40 stably places device 1 in a vertical position holding bar 70 with or without plate 75. The stable placement is achieved by base 40 having a greater surface area as compared to end 68, mid-section 65 and distal end 60. When anchoring means 5 holds bar 70 with plate 75 as shown in FIG. 2B, the surface area of base 40 allows for sufficient ground contact to stabilize device 1 from collapsing. Alternatively, base 40 may have a texturized surface that has ridges, indentations, fibers or mini protrusions that stabilizes base 40 with the ground, or additional stabilizing means such as a suction means that stations base 40 and device 1 on the ground. Base 40 has a minimal length of 3-8 inches, preferably 4-6 inches. Base 40 has a minimal surface area of 10-20 square inches, preferably 11-15 square inches for ground contact.

Spacer 22 optionally has a rolling means 25, located by end 68 and adjacent to base 40. Rolling means 25 enables the user to remove barbell 90 safely from anchoring means 5 of device 1. Spacer 22 and base 40 are made of solid such as wood, rubber, plastic, rigid plastic foam, metal, reinforced composites, fortified cellulosic products, or mixtures thereof.

As shown in FIG. 3, device 1 also has a second base 30 that places device 1 in a stable horizontal position on the floor, and a docking means 43 that is spaced apart and above second base 30 by a spacer 50. The separation between docking means 43 and base 30 is such that the user exerts minimal energy to elevate end 110 of barbell 90 from the floor surface, and to load additional plates such as plate 80 onto end 110 of barbell 90, as shown in FIG. 4. Specifically, the separation or the vertical height of spacer 50 is about 1 to 5 inches, preferably 1 to 3 inches. Docking means 43 and spacer 50 are adjacent to stabilizing means 38, which forms a sidewall of spacer 22. Docking means 43 is an elevated surface that is either flat, concaved or in any shape or form that holds or immobilizes plate 75 of end 110 of barbell 90, as shown in FIG. 4. Docking means 43 has ends 45 and 48. Docking means 43 may further contain protrusions 47 on either or both of ends 45 and 48. Alternatively, docking means 43 may contain a texturized surface that has ridges 46, indentations, fibers or mini protrusions that immobilize plate 75. Protrusions 47 may be round, pointy, square, or in any other shape or form that secures plate 75 within anchoring means 43. Protrusions 47 are large enough to stop weight plate 75 from shifting within docking means 43, but not large enough to make the placement of plate 75 in docking means 43 difficult. Specifically, protrusions 47 have a dimension of about 0.02 to 8 cubic inches, preferably 0.1 to 3 cubic inches. Stabilizing means 38 is either a straight sidewall (38A), or a curved side wall portion of spacer 22 for loaded end 110 to lean upon, and allows for stable loading or unloading of plate 80, see FIGS. 2A and 4. Spacer 50 is made of a solid such as wood, rubber, plastic, rigid plastic foam, metal, reinforced composites, fortified cellulosic products, or mixtures thereof. Second base 30 may be perpendicular or off-set relative to first base 40.

As shown in FIG. 4, when a barbell 90 is loaded with plate 75 on end 110, the opposite end 72 which does not contain a plate often serves as a pivot point, so as to cause plate 75 to shift in a curving path on the ground. This curving shift of barbell 90 is stopped when the user places end 110 onto device 1 in a horizontal position, such that plate 75 leans into stabilizing means 38 and sits in docking means 43, which immobilizes weight plate 75 and end 110. Further, stabilizing means 38 holds end 110 in place, such that the user can load another weight plate 80 onto end 110 without having end 110 falling off docking means 43.

As end 110 travels in a curving path, plate 75 may bump into or rub the surface of means 38 and overtime cause scratches or surface damage to stabilizing means 38. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 3, stabilizing means 38 may be in the form of a curved or angled surface of sections 65 and/or 60 of spacer 22 to conform to the curving path traveled by loaded end 110, to reduce the damage. The curved surface or angled surface of stabilizing means 38 may have an angle β of 8° to 1°, preferably 6° to 3°, deviating from docking means 43. Additionally, stabilizing means 38 may be perpendicular to docking means 43.

Referring again to FIG. 3, docking means 43 may be additionally connected to a ramping means 33 that extends base 30 from end 48 of docking means 43. Ramping means 33 may be adjacent to stabilizing means 38. Ramping means 33 enables the user to roll, instead of to lift, end 110 containing plate 75 onto docking means 43. Ramping means 33 may have a texturized surface that has ridges 49, indentations, fibers or mini protrusions that keeps plate 75 on track to be placed onto docking means 43, or facilitates quick rolling of plate 75 onto docking means 43. Docking means 43 and ramping means 33 are of the same width, preferably of a width that accommodates minimally the thickness of one weight plate, and maximally that allows device 1 to be light and portable. More preferably, the width of docking means 43 is of 0.5 inch to 5 inches, most preferably of between 1 inch to 2.5 inches. Ramping means 33 can be made with a straight edge 33A, or to accommodate the curving shift of end 110, a curved edge can be provided to conform to such shift, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 3. The curvature allows end 110 to follow its natural track to be rolled onto ramping means 33 and then into docking means 43. Similarly to stabilizing means 38, the curved edge of ramping means 33 may have an angle β of 8° to 1°, preferably 6° to 3°, deviating from the straight side edge 32 of docking means 43. Preferably, ramping means 33 is adjacent to stabilizing means 38 or 38A of device 1, opposite of base 40. Ramping means 33 may be made of a solid, such as wood, rubber, plastic, rigid plastic foam, metal, reinforced composite, fortified cellulosic products, or mixtures thereof.

Additionally, device 1 may include indicia on any of the above-mentioned means, such as indicia to identify the device, to relay instructions on how to use the device, or to bear beautification patterns or design.

Method of Operation

Initially, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2B, a user places device 1 in a vertical position with base 40 on a flat ground surface and base 30 facing away from him or herself. The user lifts bar 70 of barbell 90 and places bar 70 into anchoring means 5, such that end 72 rests on the ground, and end 110 is propped by anchoring means 5 at an angle to end 72. The user then places plate 75 onto end 110. At this point, base 40 is in full contact with the ground, securing device 1 from collapsing due to the weight brought on by plate 75. The user may lift barbell 90 to release it from anchoring means 5 of device 1, or, the user may pull bar 70 towards themself with end 110 still anchored by anchoring means 5, such that device 1 is changed into a horizontal position and anchoring means 5 faces the user. The shift of position of device 1 may be facilitated by rolling means 25 located on end 68, which can be a round or bulging protrusion that enables device 1 to roll from a vertical to a horizontal position.

After the horizontal shift is complete, the user releases end 110 from device 1, places device 1 again in a vertical position adjacent end 72 of barbell 90, and anchors bar 70 in anchoring means 5 adjacent end 72. The user then places another plate (not shown) onto end 72. After the plate loadings are completed, the user pulls bar 70 towards themself while end 72 is still being anchored by anchoring means 5. The shift moves device 1 from a vertical to horizontal position to release barbell 90. At this point, the user is ready to perform their weightlifting routine, or ready to add additional weight plates onto barbell 90.

The user can optionally add one or more plates onto ends 72 and 110 of barbell 90 after loading the first plate onto either end 72 or 110, when device 1 is in the vertical position as in FIG. 2B. The addition can be accomplished from when bar 70 remains in anchoring means 5. In this method, the user pushes bar 70 of barbell 90 away from themself with anchoring means 5 holding bar 70. After the shift, device 1 is in a horizontal position with base 30 in full contact with the ground as shown in FIG. 4. The user then releases bar 70 from anchoring means 5, aligns and rolls plate 75 of end 110 onto ramping means 33 while leaning into stabilizing means 38, then secures plate 75 within docking means 43. Afterwards, the user places another weight plate 80 onto end 110 adjacent to plate 75. When the loading is completed, the user pushes barbell 90 away from themself, such that plate 75 rolls end 110 off docking means 43 and ramping means 33 to release barbell 90 from device 1. The user then repeats the same procedure for loading plates onto end 72.

Alternatively, instead of loading weight plates consecutively from a vertical to horizontal position, the user can manually place device 1 in a horizontal position with base 30 in full contact with the ground and base 40 facing themselves as shown in FIG. 3, then repeat the same loading procedure as described hereinabove.

To unload plates from ends 110 and 72, the user first places device 1 in a horizontal position with base 30 in full contact with the ground, and base 40 facing themself. The user then rolls plate 75 of end 110 onto ramping means 33 and into docking means 43. At this point, the user removes plate 80 from end 110, then pushes barbell 90 away from themself, such that plate 75 rolls with end 110 off docking means 43 and ramping means 33. The user then anchors bar 70 by end 110 into anchoring means 5 and pulls barbell 90 towards themself, to put device 1 into a vertical position with barbell 90, and base 40 in full contact with the ground. At this point, the user removes plate 75 from end 110, and again pulls barbell 90 towards themself with anchoring means 5 still holding bar 70 to put device 1 in a horizontal position with base 40 facing away, to release barbell 90 from device 1. The user then repeats the same procedure to unload weight plates for end 72.

The advantage of relying on device 1 to load or unload weight plates is that the user can use both hands to load or unload plates, with barbell 90 being supported and anchored by device 1. Thus, the user exerts equal force on both sides of his or her body to handle the weight plate, and thereby reduces potential bodily injury. Further, the advantage of relying on device 1 to consecutively load first and more plates by simply changing the position of device 1, is that the user exerts minimal energy to lift bar 70 in between the steps, such that device 1 supports and absorbs the weight of bar 70 during the change of its position. Thus, overall, the user can reserve his or her strength and energy for his or her weightlifting session, and have a safe weight removal experience.

Barbell safety device 1 is also portable and lightweight to enable the user to carry device 1 in a gym bag, or place device 1 in various locations on the floor with ease. Device 1 has a weight of 0.5 to 6 lbs, preferably 1 to 4 lbs, and more preferably 1 to 3 lbs. Further, device 1 occupies much less floor space as compared to a traditional lifting devices, because only base 30 or base 40 will be in full contact with the ground. Typically, device 1 occupies about 10 to 40 square inches, preferably 12 to 35 square inches, and more preferably 14 to 30 square inches of floor space. 

1. A barbell safety device comprising a first base to allow said device to be stably placed in a vertical position, a second base to allow said device to be stably placed in a horizontal position, an anchoring means vertically spaced from said first base for holding a bar of a barbell when said device is in the vertical position, and a docking means to hold a weight plate of a barbell when said device is in the horizontal position.
 2. The barbell safety device of claim 1, wherein said first base and said second base are flat surfaces.
 3. The barbell safety device of claim 1, wherein said first base is perpendicular to said second base.
 4. The barbell safety device of claim 1, wherein a first spacer separates said anchoring means apart from and above said first base.
 5. The barbell safety device of claim 1, wherein a second spacer separates said docking means apart from and above said second base.
 6. The barbell safety device of claim 1, wherein said docking means has two ends, each end includes one or more protrusions.
 7. The barbell safety device of claim 1, wherein said docking means has a texturized surface.
 8. The barbell safety device of claim 1, wherein said anchoring means is a groove, a notch, or a channel.
 9. The barbell safety device of claim 8, wherein said anchoring means has a bulge or a decline with an angle of 45° or less.
 10. The barbell safety device of claim 4, wherein said first spacer is a solid made of wood, metal, rubber, plastic, rigid plastic foam, fortified cellulosic products, reinforced composites, or mixtures thereof.
 11. The barbell safety device of claim 5, wherein said second spacer is a solid made of wood, metal, rubber, plastic, rigid plastic foam, fortified cellulosic products, reinforced composites, or mixtures thereof.
 12. The barbell safety device of claim 4, wherein said first spacer further includes a stabilizing means that is adjacent to said docking means for allowing a weight of a barbell to lean against.
 13. The barbell safety device of claim 12, wherein said stabilizing means has an angled surface or a flat surface.
 14. The barbell safety device of claim 13, wherein said stabilizing means is an angled surface having an angle of 8° to 1° deviated from said docking means.
 15. The barbell safety device of claim 1, including a ramping means extending from said docking means, whereby a weight plate can be rolled onto said ramping means and placed into said docking means.
 16. The barbell safety device of claim 15, wherein said ramping means is a solid made of wood, metal, rubber, plastic, rigid plastic foam, fortified cellulosic products, reinforced composites, or mixtures thereof.
 17. The barbell safety device of claim 15, wherein said ramping means has a straight or curved outside edge.
 18. The barbell safety device of claim 17, wherein said ramping means has a curved outside edge, and has an angle β of 8° to 1° deviated from the straight edge of said docking means.
 19. The barbell safety device of claim 4, wherein said first spacer has one end closed to said first base and said one end contains a rolling means above said first base, to allow changing said device from a vertical position to a horizontal position, or vice versa.
 20. The barbell safety device of claim 1, wherein said device has a weight of 0.5 to 6 lbs and occupies about 10 to 40 square inches of floor space. 